US Social Security Chief Resigns Amid Data Access Dispute

The White House announced Tuesday that the Trump administration has appointed a fraud prevention expert to temporarily oversee the Social Security Administration (SSA) following the resignation of its acting commissioner, Michelle King.

King’s departure appears linked to tensions with Elon Musk’s cost-cutting task force, which has been working to streamline government spending.

According to The Washington Post, she resigned after Musk’s team allegedly attempted to access sensitive Social Security data.

King had been serving in an interim capacity while awaiting the confirmation of Trump’s nominee, Frank Bisignano. In the meantime, the SSA will be led by Leland Dudek, a former head of the agency’s anti-fraud office, according to reports.

The administration’s efforts to reduce costs, spearheaded by Musk, have drawn criticism for their aggressive approach.

White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt told Fox News that Trump tasked Musk with uncovering fraudulent payments, alleging that “millions of deceased individuals” were still receiving Social Security benefits fraudulently.

However, experts warn of the risks associated with Musk’s involvement. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, expressed alarm, stating that the SSA holds vast amounts of sensitive data, including medical records, income details, and banking information.

The broader cost-cutting initiative has faced resistance across multiple agencies. 

In January, David Lebryk, the Treasury Department’s top civil servant, resigned after refusing to grant Musk’s team access to federal payment systems. 

Additionally, The Washington Post reported that a federal prosecutor recently stepped down after rejecting a White House directive to cancel $20 billion in climate and renewable energy grants.